East Hartford Adopts Budget With 1.6 Percent Spending Increase

East Hartford adopted a $177.88 million budget, a 1.6 percent increase from last year

The town council adopted a $177.88 million budget that represents a 1.6 percent spending increase, or $2.73 million, from last year’s budget.

The 2015-16 budget will require a tax increase of less than half of 1 mill, to 45.86 mills. A mill equals $1 for each $1,000 of assessed property value.

The budget, approved March 10, includes $88.26 million for the school system.

“The mayor’s priorities of keeping services intact, balanced with the council’s priorities — I think they did a good job balancing,” said Finance Director Michael Walsh.

Mayor Marcia Leclerc originally proposed a 1.9 percent increase, for a budget of $178.39 million. Her proposal, which presumed the town would receive the same amount of municipal aid as last year, was adjusted when the town received an additional $885,000 from the state.

Along with identifying about $200,000 in local revenue, the town council cut expenses by just more than $500,000.

That brings the town’s expense reductions to $1.6 million, Walsh said, which translates to an increase of about $46 per year, or 1 percent, for the average taxpayer.

The budget includes about $260,000 in savings from retrofitting streetlights with LED bulbs, as well as from savings in gasoline and diesel fuel. The budget also plans for continued funding of the town’s revaluation, scheduled for Oct. 1, 2016, as well as higher overtime costs for public safety staff.

The town plans to use a combination of bonding, leasing and money from the capital improvement program for several capital expenses, including two new dump trucks, a step replacement at town hall and one snow tractor.

Last year’s budget was $175.15 million, with $87.26 million allocated for education.